EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Outcomes of EU-Egypt summit spark criticism ― MSF ordered to leave Libya ― IOM calls Libya ‘dangerous place’ for people on the move ― NGO denounces IOM for hosting meeting with Libyan authorities ― Tunisia suspends NGOs ― Tunisian refugee rights advocates go on trial
The outcomes of the first-ever EU-Egypt summit have been criticised by NGOs. The humanitarian NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been ordered to leave Libya. The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has spoken about the dire conditions faced...
ECRE Policy Note: Towards a point of no return for fundamental rights? The EC’s proposal for a Return Regulation
ECRE has published a policy note which summarises its analysis of key provisions in the proposal for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (commonly known as the ‘Return Regulation’). The...
OP-ED: Europe must resist temptation to deport Afghans into a rights vacuum
By Hameed Hakimi In August 2024, Germany became the first European country to deport Afghans to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Although the deportation process was facilitated through Qatar, two things should be clear. First, the office of the then German chancellor...
CENTRAL EUROPE: Austria to close last remaining arrival centre for Ukrainians ― Protests against German chancellor’s migration comments ― Polish PM criticised for comments about future of ECHR ― Polish court rejects complaint from pushback victim ― Switzerland announces draconian travel ban for people in asylum system and tightens temporary protection regime
The last remaining arrival centre for displaced Ukrainians in Austria is due to close at the end of 2025. Demonstrations have taken place in several German cities in response to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments on migration. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has...
ITALY: Prime Minister joins other EU leaders for informal migration summit – Media investigation into Italy-Albania migration deal – Humanitarians on trial in Sicily – ICC rules on Italy’s handling of Almasri case – Italy-Libya MoU renewed
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has participated in an informal meeting on migration in the margins of the latest European Council summit. A recent media investigation has added to the longstanding criticism of the Italy-Albania migration agreement. Six members of a...
GERMANY: Merz under fire for ‘racist’ comment ― Government possibly close to deportation deal with Taliban ― Coalition disagreement over deportation centres ― Parliament votes to scrap fast-track citizenship ― Council of Europe visit focused on migration and asylum
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under fire following an apparently racist remark he made on a recent visit to the eastern state of Brandenburg. The Federal Government may be close to finalising a deal with the Taliban which would facilitate an increase in deportations to...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: NGO report highlights fatal consequences of EU externalisation policies – ICC asked to examine potential involvement of European officials in crimes committed by Libyan authorities against people on the move – Joint Libyan delegation visits Brussels and Warsaw – Libyan authorities accused of attacking another vessel in the Mediterranean – NGO report reveals increase in violent attacks at sea by Libyan authorities – EU and Egypt hold first-ever summit
A new NGO report has warned that the EU’s externalisation policies have made asylum journeys increasingly deadly. A group of human rights lawyers has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate European officials for their potential involvement in crimes...
Pact for the Mediterranean
The European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have published a joint communication on the ‘Pact for the Mediterranean’. Together with the creation of the post of Commissioner for the Mediterranean in the current College of Commissioners,...